Bone splint with absorbable section



June 6, 1961 A. E. ELLISON 2,987,062 BONE SPLINT WITH ABSORBABLE SECTIONFiled July 25, 1956 Fig. I l8 I6 22 IO I2 I C=t J E INVENTOR. ARTHUR E.ELLISON ATTORNEYS United States Patent C) 2,987,062 BONE SPLINT WITHABSORBABLE SECTION Arthur E. Ellison, Medfield, Mass. (Adams Road,Williamstown, Mass.) Filed July 23, 1956, Ser. No. 599,448 2 Claims.(Cl. 128-92) This invention relates to orthopedic appliances and inparticular to the clamp useful in treating bone fractures.

There is known to the profession an orthopedic clamp commonly referredto as a Par-ham band and used to treat fractures wherein the bone isfragmented, such for example, as a butterfly fracture. The Parham bandconsists of a strip of inert metal such as stainless steel or vitalium,having an enlarged head with an opening large enough to receive the bodyof the strip. The band is passed around the fractured bone and drawntight; then the strip is bent back upon itself where it passes throughthe opening in the head. The bone fragments are thus clamped tightly inproper array so that the healing process may begin.

While the Parham band has been proved a useful device for the treatmentof difiicult fractures, it has been found necessary to operate after afew weeks to remove the band, since continued pressure of the clampeventually causes the death of the bone beneath it.

One object of the invention is to eliminate the operation required forthe removal of a Parham band.

Another object of the invention is to reduce the expense to the patientfor the treatment of a fracture of bone.

An important feature of the invention resides in incorporating in aParham band a portion comprised of a substance which deteriorates or isabsorbed within the body, thus providing an automatic release of thepressure of the clamp without requiring an operation on the patient.

These and other objects and features of the invention will be morereadily understood and appreciated from the following detaileddescription of a preferred embodiment thereof selected for purposes ofillustration and shown in the accompanying drawing, in which:

FIG. 1 is a plan view of a clamp embodying the invention,

FIG. 2 is a plan view on an enlarged scale showing the connecting linkmore clearly, and

FIG. 3 is a diagrammatic view in cross-section through a fractured bonein which the clamp has been applied.

The clamp of the invention, as best shown in FIG. 1, includes anelongated narrow flat strip of flexible but not excessively resilientinert metal such as stainless steel, vitalium or other strong toughsubstance which may be incorporated in the body without generating localreactions or toxic elfects. Adjacent each end of the strip 10 is a hole,as shown at 12 and 14.

There is also provided a shorter strip 16 of the same material buthaving an enlarged spatulate head in which is punched a slot 18 wideenough to receive the strip 10. At its other end the strip 16 isprovided with a hole 20 matching the hole 14 in the adjacent end of thestrip 10.

Interconnecting the strips, or hands, 10 and 16 is a link 22 made of amaterial which deteriorates when incorporated in the body. 1 have foundthat chromic catgut is a satisfactory material for the link 22, being amaterial commonly employed for absorbable sutures and disintegratingfairly rapidly in response to the digeslive action of tissue enzymes.Other materials suggest themselves to those skilled in the art.

Preferably the link 22 is endless, a result which may be achieved byforming a tube of material and slicing ofi loops. The link 22 mayconveniently be secured 2,987,062 Patented June 6, 1961 to the holes 14and 20 in the strips 10 and 16 by ring hitches, as most clearly shown inFIG. 2, although other forms of knot, hitch, or connection are obviouslysuitable. Preferably the strip or band '16 is much shorter than thestrip 10, since it is desirable to have the link close to the enlargedhead in order to make it possible to use the clamp on bones of smalldiameter.

In using the orthopedic clamp of the invention, the surgeon first makessuch an incision as is necessary to enable him to pass the longer ship10 around the bone, as suggested in FIG. 3. The free end of the strip 10is brought through the slot 18 in the strip 16 and then engaged by atensioning device (not shown). The tensioning device is employed to bindthe clamp around the bone fragment 32 and 34 (within the leg 30) untilthe surgeon judges that suflicient pressure is being applied. Then theend 40 of the strip 10 is bent back upon itself and the excess snipped01f. The tensioning device is removed, the incision closed, andconventional treatment techniques carried out.

The natural digestive action of tissue enzymes 'will consume thesubstance of the absorbable link 22, the result being that after a fewweeks the link snaps or parts and clamping pressure is automaticallyterminated. The metal parts of the band may be left in situ withoutadverse effects. Consequently the patient is relieved of the pain andexpense of an operation for removal of the clamp, while at the same timethe deleterious effects of continued pressure on the bone are obviated.

It should be pointed out that the diameter of the link material can bevaried to increase or decrease the time required for disintegration ofthe link.

Having thus disclosed my invention, what I claim as new and desire tosecure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. An orthopedic clamp comprising a pair of bands of which the first hasan enlarged end provided with an opening large enough to receive theother band, the other end of the first band and one end of the secondhand being provided with holes, and a link passing through said holesand joining the two bands, said link being comprised of a tough materialwhich is absorbable within the body.

2. An orthopedic clamp comprising a pair of bands having first endsthereof fastened one to the other, the second ends of said bands beingprovided with holes, and a link passing through said holes and joiningthe two bands, said link being comprised of a tough material which isabsorbable within the body.

References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS1,949,111 Randall Feb. 27, 1934 1,950,799 Jones Mar. 13, 1934 2,030,018Mouilbon Feb. 4, 1936 2,093,145 Carruthers Sept. 14, 1937 FOREIGNPATENTS 519,133 Great Britain Mar. 18, 1940 OTHER REFERENCES Annals ofSurgery for 1893, p. 151. (Copy in Scientific Library and Division 55.)

The British Medical Journal J an. 30, 1932, page 198. (Copy in Division55.)

Journal of Bone and Joint Surgery January 1935, pages 228-229. (Copy inDivision 55.)

Operative Surgery, (Bickham), published by Saunders (Philadelphia) 1924,vol. II, page 367 relied on. (Copy in Div. 55.)

Arch. f. Klin. Ohir. 1930, pages 680-684, 128-92. (Copy in Division 55.)

